<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Giridhar Aramane, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, today assumed the office of Defence Secretary. In his 32 years of service, Mr Aramane has held various important portfolios in the Central Government as well as Andhra Pradesh government. Prior to his current assignment, he was Secretary in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Earlier, he was an Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat. He also looked after Exploration Division in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and was Executive Director in-charge of inspections in Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>